League a step up but Donegal youngsters can stake claims right away - Neil McGee

Neil McGee says Donegal’s new cluster of exciting teenagers are being developed for the long term but that doesn’t mean some can’t gatecrash the 2026 party.

Jim McGuinness side lifted the McKenna Cup last Saturday evening in Omagh but McGee says it was the game minutes and time afforded on the pitch to the squad’s rising crop that is the most important takeaway. 

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“We needed to look to add three or four lads to the squad because we lost a few in the off-season,” the 2012 All-Ireland winner, now a selector with his county, said. 

“So it was ideal to see the McKenna Cup return and, from our point of view, see that the Max Campbells, Turlough Carrs, Conor McCahills and Shea Malones got game time. 

“We’d seen them all during the club championship but up close and personal, at training and on the field now, we have an even better understanding of where they’re at. 

“It’s a development stage, of course, but they aren’t holding anything back. And I love to see that. If you’re in right now, why not stake a claim? 

“They have all put their hands up for next week and that can only be positive”.  

McGee says the management have deliberately looked to splice some experience into all five lines in a bid to coax that development on. 

And it’s fair to say it’s been an accelerated learning curve over the last fortnight as wins over Antrim, Derry and the Farney County were secured. 

Like colts out the gate, Donegal’s fresh faces have added real energy to matters back at Donegal’s training base in Convoy. 

Still, McGee says the manner in which Donegal’s established contingent has looked to drive all that on bodes well for the months ahead. 

“We have also been pleased with how the experienced players have come back on and how they’ve looked to apply themselves. 

“The slate has been wiped clean and they are only looking forward. Yeah, we had some tough conversations over the winter but the response has been so encouraging. 

“Because at the end of the day, they are the ones setting the tempo and the standards for the new lads to follow up on”.

Shea Malone’s two-goal haul at Healy Park was one of last weekend’s highlights as the former Sligo Rovers man continues to show a real eye for goal, regardless of the code. 

“In fairness to Shea, he’s only back in playing Gaelic football from Sligo Rovers. But he showed in the club championship that he’s got so much natural ability,” McGee explained.  

“So the exciting thing for him is that he’s only going to improve as he gets more game smart and comfortable in what's a new environment. 

“When he gets the ball, he’s looking to do as much damage as possible. And that’s something that he’s maybe taken over from soccer. Long may it continue”. 

On the game itself, McGee felt once Donegal got a stranglehold on matters with Malone’s first green flag just seven minutes in, they dictated the pace of matters from that point on. 

But the real acid test for the squad and especially the newbies, determined to play a part right away, will come during the NFL. 

And all that gets underway away to Ger Brennan’s Dublin at Croke Park on Saturday evening. 

“We were comfortable overall, I thought. We got the first goal early and I don’t think we were in too much danger after that. 

“We rang the changes, so did they, but we kept a good tempo even then. So we’re very happy with that. 

“You try to manage that blend, that there are more experienced lads in each line to help those young fellas out. 

“And you can see that communication, you can see the older lads at certain stages talking them through the game. 

“And that’s not just tonight, the three games across the entire McKenna Cup were really beneficial. So we’re quite happy now as we turn our attention to the league.

“That’s going to be a real step up so let’s see just what that brings”